Washington, D.C.: The U.S. Senate has officially begun debate on former President Donald Trump’s sweeping new spending proposal, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The package, which aims to advance major aspects of Trump’s domestic agenda, has sparked deep divisions among both Republicans and Democrats.

The proposed legislation includes an extension of Trump’s earlier tax cuts—amounting to $4.5 trillion—and proposes increased funding for border security. However, it also calls for significant reductions to social welfare programs, most notably Medicaid.

Republican lawmakers are split over the bill, with many concerned about the political fallout ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Critics within the GOP argue that the legislation could leave millions of low-income Americans without health coverage and add over $3 trillion to the national debt.

The Senate moved forward with the debate late Saturday, narrowly passing a procedural motion by a 51-49 vote. Vice President J.D. Vance played a key role in brokering an agreement among hesitant Republican senators, helping to break the deadlock.

Democrats, meanwhile, remain firmly opposed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the lack of transparency around the nearly 1,000-page bill, demanding it be read in full on the Senate floor before debate could continue—a process expected to take up to 15 hours. “Republicans won’t tell America what’s in the bill,” Schumer said. “So Democrats are forcing it to be read from start to finish.”

Independent analysts say the bill would result in a major redistribution of wealth, shifting resources from the poorest 10 percent of Americans to the wealthiest. Public opinion polls indicate widespread disapproval across party lines and demographic groups.

One of the most controversial elements is the proposed rollback of Medicaid funding, which experts warn could jeopardize rural hospitals and leave approximately 8.6 million Americans uninsured. Additionally, the bill would eliminate several tax incentives for renewable energy introduced under President Joe Biden.

Prominent Trump supporter Elon Musk criticized the proposal, calling it “absolutely crazy and disastrous.” He warned that the plan favors outdated industries at the expense of future innovation.

If passed by the Senate, the bill will return to the House of Representatives for final approval. However, Republican leaders in the House are still a few votes short and face strong opposition from within their own party. Both chambers must pass identical versions of the bill before it can be signed into law.